Corrugated shearwall

Abstract

A prefabricated shearwall including a central diaphragm having a height generally defined by top and bottom edges, and a width generally defined by a pair of end sections. The diaphragm further includes at least one corrugation extending in the height direction at least partially between the top and bottom edges. The corrugation increases the ductility and ability of the shearwall to withstand lateral forces such as those generated in earthquakes, high winds, floods and snow loads.

1. A shearwall construction, comprising:
 a shearwall, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including:
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, the first and second ends further defining a depth of the central diaphragm perpendicular to the height and width of the central diaphragm, the first and second ends oriented parallel to each other to provide a rectangular footprint of the central diaphragm; 
 a corrugated section extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, attached to and extending from said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation having holes therein; 
 
 a pair of wooden chords including a first wooden chord affixed to the first end and a second wooden chord affixed to the second end, the chords extending along the height and depth of the central diaphragm; and 
 a bottom plate mounted at the bottom edge of the central diaphragm, the bottom plate extending along the depth of the central diaphragm and the width of the central diaphragm plus the pair of chords, support of the pair of chords on the bottom plate preventing moisture entering the pair of chords from a surface on which the shearwall is supported, the bottom plate including a pair of holes for receiving anchors; 
 
 a concrete foundation as the surface on which the shearwall is supported; and 
 a pair of anchors fit through the holes in the bottom plate anchoring the shearwall to the concrete foundation. 
 
     
     
       2. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated section forms one and only one corrugation. 
     
     
       3. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends each include
 one stiffening lip extending at an angle to the first and second ends. 
 
     
     
       4. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated section forms two and only two corrugations. 
     
     
       5. A shearwall construction, comprising:
 a shearwall, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including:
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, the first and second ends further defining a depth of the central diaphragm perpendicular to the height and width of the central diaphragm, the first and second ends oriented parallel to each other to provide a rectangular footprint of the central diaphragm; 
 a corrugated section extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, attached to and extending from said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation having holes therein; 
 
 a pair of wooden chords including a first wooden chord affixed to the first end and a second wooden chord affixed to the second end, the chords extending along the height and depth of the central diaphragm; and 
 a bottom plate mounted at the bottom edge of the central diaphragm, the bottom plate extending along the depth of the central diaphragm and the width of the central diaphragm plus the pair of chords, support of the pair of chords on the bottom plate preventing moisture entering the pair of chords from a surface on which the shearwall is supported, the bottom plate including a pair of holes for receiving anchors; 
 
 a wooden surface as the surface on which the shearwall is supported; and 
 a pair of anchors fit through the holes in the bottom plate anchoring the shearwall to the wooden surface. 
 
     
     
       6. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the corrugated section forms one and only one corrugation. 
     
     
       7. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the corrugated section forms two and only two corrugations. 
     
     
       8. A shearwall construction, comprising:
 a shearwall, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including:
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, the first and second ends further defining a depth of the central diaphragm perpendicular to the height and width of the central diaphragm, the first and second ends oriented parallel to each other to provide a rectangular footprint of the central diaphragm; 
 a corrugated section extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, attached to and extending from said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation having holes therein; 
 
 a pair of wooden chords including a first wooden chord affixed to the first end and a second wooden chord affixed to the second end, the chords extending along the height and depth of the central diaphragm; and 
 a bottom plate mounted at the bottom edge of the central diaphragm, the bottom plate extending along the depth of the central diaphragm and the width of the central diaphragm plus the pair of chords, support of the pair of chords on the bottom plate preventing moisture entering the pair of chords from a surface on which the shearwall is supported, the bottom plate including a pair of holes for receiving anchors for anchoring the shearwall to the surface. 
 
 
     
     
       9. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the corrugated section forms one and only one corrugation. 
     
     
       10. A shearwall construction as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the corrugated section forms two and only two corrugations. 
     
     
       11. A method of building a construction resisting shear loads, comprising the steps of:
 (a) prefabricating a shearwall remotely from a site of the construction, the shearwall including:
 a central diaphragm, including: 
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, the first and second ends further defining a depth of the central diaphragm perpendicular to the height and width of the central diaphragm, the first and second ends oriented parallel to each other to provide a rectangular footprint of the central diaphragm; 
 a corrugated section extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, attached to and extending from said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation having holes therein; and 
 a pair of wooden chords including a first wooden chord affixed to the first end and a second wooden chord affixed to the second end, the chords extending along the height and depth of the central diaphragm; 
 a bottom plate mounted at the bottom edge of the central diaphragm, the bottom plate extending along the depth of the central diaphragm and the width of the central diaphragm plus the pair of chords, support of the pair of chords on the bottom plate preventing moisture entering the pair of chords from a surface on which the shearwall is supported, the bottom plate including a pair of holes for receiving anchors; 
 
 (b) mounting the shearwall on a support surface at the construction site via anchors provided through the holes in the bottom plate; and 
 (c) affixing at least one of the chords to an adjacent wall at the construction site. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of building a construction resisting shear loads, comprising the steps of:
 (a) prefabricating a shearwall remotely from a site of the construction, the shearwall including:
 a central diaphragm, including: 
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, the first and second ends further defining a depth of the central diaphragm perpendicular to the height and width of the central diaphragm, the first and second ends oriented parallel to each other to provide a rectangular footprint of the central diaphragm; 
 a corrugated section extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, attached to and extending from said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation having holes therein; and 
 a pair of wooden chords including a first wooden chord affixed to the first end and a second wooden chord affixed to the second end, the chords extending along the height and depth of the central diaphragm; 
 a bottom plate mounted at the bottom edge of the central diaphragm, the bottom plate extending along the depth of the central diaphragm and the width of the central diaphragm plus the pair of chords, support of the pair of chords on the bottom plate preventing moisture entering the pair of chords from a surface on which the shearwall is supported, the bottom plate including a pair of holes for receiving anchors. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step (b) of transporting the prefabricated shearwall to the site of the construction. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step (c) of mounting the shearwall on a support surface via anchors provided through the holes in the bottom plate. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , said step (c) of mounting the shearwall on a support surface comprising the step of mounting the shearwall on a concrete foundation. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step (d) of affixing at least one of the chords to an adjacent wall.